A German woman who was fostered by a Swinford family following the end of World War Two is looking to get back in touch with the family whom she lived with for three years, following the end of the war over 60 years ago.
Marianne (Maria ) Cremer was one of nearly 1,000 children that came to Ireland in 1946 as part of a Red Cross initiative, which later became known as ‘Operation Shamrock’. Marianne spent three years in Swinford, with her Irish foster family the Dolans. However in the years following her return to Germany, Marianne lost touch with the Dolan family.
Marianne’s son Stavros Antoniadis said, “She never forgot Ireland and the wonderful family, she has been telling my sister and me about her years in Ireland. She has been dreaming of visiting Ireland again and maybe to meet members of the Dolan family again.”
On behalf of his mother, Stavros is appealing for information on the family who fostered Marianne. “We know that their names were Kath and Peter, their children were called Mary, Joan and Dorrie. They all lived in Swinford, in Mayo.” Anyone with information about the family can contact Jennifer or Rebecca at the Irish Red Cross on 01 642 4600 or Sue Paterson at the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation on 01 2829711.
Operation Shamrock was a relief operation organised by the Irish Red Cross that saw refugee children, many of whom were orphans, evacuated to Ireland because of the difficult situation in their own countries following World War Two. Many of the children, aged from five to 15 years old, were taken to St Kevin’s Hostel in Wicklow, now the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, before being fostered by families throughout Ireland. Most of the children were ultimately reunited with their families after a period of three years, some remained with their foster families and continued their lives in Ireland.
